Heel-cushion for boots and shoes.



0. M. ROLFE.

HEEL cusmou FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1915- Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

WITNESSES: I II7VLID ENTORJ bk ATTORNEY.

ORRIN ivr. ROLFE, or LowELL, uessacnosnrrs.

HEEL-CUSHION ron Boers AN'D SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted Sept, 21, 1915 Application filed Ju1y 26, 191.5. SerialNo. 41,860.

T all whom it. may] concern Be it known that I, OnnIN M. Home, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Heel-Cushions for Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to heel-cushions for boots and shoes of ordinary construction,

such cushions being adapted to be readily placed within the boots or shoes and as readily to be removed therefrom, and in use being retained in position by the relative shape of the cushion and of the boot or shoe in which they are worn.

The cushion herein described is made of thin spring sheet-metal, preferably spring sheet-steel and is provided at its side edges with downwardly curved fingers integral with said plate and convex on their outer surfaces, so that the pressure of the foot upon said plate not only eoncaves the upper surface of said plate between its sides but increases the curvature of the spring fingers, thus utilizing the elasticity of both the body of said plate and of said fingers. The lower end-portions of the fingers, rest upon a metallic or wear-resisting bearingplate which is provided with upturned side edges outside of the lower parts of said fingers, to keep said fingersfrom getting off said bearing plate and wearing the sole of the shoe. The top plate and the bearing plate are connected at or near their front ends, to prevent any lateral or longitudinal movement of either relatively to the other. A sheet of leather or any similar comparatively soft material may be arranged above the top plate and secured in place by rivets which pass through said sheet and the top-plate and wearing-plate.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1,

is a plan of any improved heel-cushion; Fig.

2, a right side elevation of the same; Fig. 8, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 4:, an isometric perspective view of the same with the unattached rear end of the lining turned up and the rear end portion of the top-plate broken away to show the wearing plate; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section of a part of a boot or shoe, showing the cushion in position. 6

A denotes the top-plate, of the general contour in plan of the rear'portion of the insole e of the shoe and arranged in use .above the heel e and extending for some distance forward over the shank of the shoe,

except that the side edges of said top-plate are provided with arc-shaped fingers a a integral with said topplate and curved outwardly beyond the sidesand downwardly, as best shown in Fig. 3, said plate A and fingers being formed from thin spring sheetsteel. The body of the wearing plate B is of the same sheet spring material as the topplate and has the general form of the body of the top-plate but is provided with upturned side edges 6 b which reach up on the outside of the spring fingers and act as stops to limit the lateral outward movement of said fingers and prevent said fingers from getting over the side edges of said plate B and marring the top of the in-sole of the shoe. The front end portions of the plates A and B are secured to each other, as by rivets D. A lining B of leather, felt cloth or other comparatively soft material is represented as covering the top-plate and secured in place by the same rivets D which unite the plates A and B, said rivets passing down through lining and plates.

lVhen the cushion is in place the pressure of the foot depresses the middle of the plate and also compresses the springs and the greater thickness of the rear end of the cushion tends to force it backward and the greater width of the rear portion of the cushion and the front ends laterally projecting tops 7) b of the wearing plate keep said cushion from sliding forward. The pressure of the foot presses the top-plate A down upon the wearing plate B and forces the middle portion of the latter down into the central depression in the top of the in-sole over the heel.

I claim as myinvention; 1. A heel-cushion comprising a top-plate of spring sheet-material having at its side edges downwardly curved fingers integral with said plate, and a wearing plate having upturned side edges outside of the lower ends of' said fingers, said plates being secured to each other near their front ends.

2; A heel cushion comprising a top-plate of spring sheet-material having at its side edges downwardly curved fingers integral with said plate, and a wearing plate of spring-sheet material, having upturned side edges outside the lower ends of said fingers,

said plates being secured to each othernear said fingers, said plates being secured toeach 10 their front ends. other near their front ends.

3. A heel cushion, comprising a top-plate In witness whereof, I have aflixed my sigof spring sheet steel having at its side edges nature in presence of two witnesses. downwardly curved fingers integral with ORRIN M ROLFE. said plate, and a wearing plate of spring I sheet steel on which the lower ends of said fingers rest said wearing plate having upturned side edges outside the lower ends of Witnesses:

ALBERT M. MOORE,

PHILIPPE PRQVENCHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

